Russian government temporarily returned limitations on log exports for rent debtors

The Russian government changed again the approach to the distribution of export tariff quotas on coniferous wood, adopting the new edition of the relevant rules, which will operate temporarily until 30 June 2015, as said by the Forest portal of Greenpeace Russia. The most significant changes relate to the fact who will now have the right to receive quotas to export softwood logs with lower export duties.

Since August 2012 to November 2013, the rules stipulated granting export quotas (and corresponding export licenses) only to those forest lease holders that do not have rental debts, or to those who have concluded contracts with such lease holders.

Then the rules were amended, allowing anyone to receive these quotas, regardless of logging rights or rental debts. Now the government decided to return temporarily the old approach. From July 1, 2015, if the government does not take any other special decision, the new version of the rules will come into force again, which will allow to allocate quotas and licenses to anyone.